Our Life After

The Insanity Begins

*Lizzie's POV*

My 15th birthday was a few days ago, and I just had a small party with Catherine and my family, typical stuff.

Today, Daddy was making French toast for breakfast and we were all sitting at the kitchen table, having morning conversation.

It was just a normal conversation until Mom said, “So, Now that you're 15, you can start learning how to drive.  Today is nice weather if you'd like to learn some stuff."

My jaw dropped open.  “Wait, SERIOUSLY?"

“Yes, honey.  I'm serious."

Daddy dropped a couple pieces of French toast on my plate, but I just sat there, saying over and over, “Seriously?"

“YES I'M SERIOUS.  Now eat your breakfast before I change my mind." Mom said with a wink, so I know she was messing with me.

I finished breakfast in record time that morning, and by 10:00 I was chomping at the bit to get out and start driving.

First, I had to learn to start the car, then we moved on to putting it in gear.  By the end of 2 hours, I could barely pull it forward and backward out of the driveway without it jerking all over the place.

I slammed my hands on the steering wheel in frustration, making the horn beep.

“It's okay, honey.  It's a tricky thing to do.  You'll get it eventually."

I kept trying all weekend, and I pulled it up and back 2 times successfully.

It doesn't matter, I told myself, There's not even that many situations where I'd have to drive a car anyway.

Day after day, as soon as my homework was done, I could practice driving up and down the driveway as much as I wanted.

Finally, one weekend I did it perfectly 10 times in a row.  I ran inside to tell everyone.

“I did it!  10 times I did it!"

“What?"  Daddy asked from the couch.

I jumped over the back of the couch, which I knew I'd get in trouble for, and plopped down next to him.

“I, Elizabeth Marie Mellark, just successfully pulled our car up and down the driveway ten times without screwing up."

He genuinely smiled, although Daddy's great at that, and said, “I am very proud of you Lizzie.  I really am.  But don't jump over the back of the couch please."

“Yes Daddy."

“Congratulations on doing something every other teenage girl can already do by now."  Christian says as he walks through the room.  For a 9 year old, he's got some sass.

I playfully shove him and say, “I'd love to see you do much better."

*****************************************************

The next day, I walked into school feeling on top of the world.  I spotted Catherine from down the hall, and she waved me over.

“What's up?" I said.

“Major issue." She said, “My brother likes you."

“Really?" I said, a little too enthusiastic for Catherine's taste.  She'd gotten over the whole thing, but was still leery of me and her brother dating. “But he's older than me."

“That two year gap really is insurmountable isn't it?  But seriously, if you like him back, I'm fine with it.  You are my best friend and I'm pretty much fine with your decision."

As if in cue, Joshua walks by, give a me a slight nod and a wink and I say to Catherine, “Really?  Are you sure?"

“Of course!  What the hell?  Live while you're young!"  I can tell she's picking up on Johanna's vocabulary.

The bell rings for first class, so we hurry to Geometry together. 

I hope one of my friends is taking notes so I can get them later, because right now I'm passing  notes with Catherine.

Me: You're sure he likes me?

C: Duh I'm sure.  I'm not blind, I can see the way he looks at you, the way he talks about you.....

Me: HE'S TALKED ABOUT ME BEFORE?!?!?!

C: Good Lord, you do get excited.  He's mentioned you about twice in the past months.

Me: Oh.

“Lizzie? Catherine?  Is there something you'd like to share with the class?" Our teacher asks.

I feel my face flush with red.  “Oh, um.....no?"

“Well then I'm sure you'll be fine with you bringing me that note then."

Catherine stands up and brings her the note which she then READS.  What even?  Who reads other people's notes?

“Girls, this is not boy problems class.  Now I would start taking notes on Sin, Cos, and Tan because there's actually going to be a test on that."

“Yes ma'am."

After class, I run out to my locker and lean up against it, head in hands.  Catherine soon catches up.

“What's wrong with you?" she says.

“Now everybody knows?" I yell back.

“Um, knows what?  That you're in high school and have a crush on someone?  Because you must be the only one who's ever done that."

I playfully shove her for being right, and then we walk to class again, and I feel better.

After school, I'm standing with Catherine at my locker, when she sees Joshua walking over.

“Oops, gotta go.  This one's for you." She says, nodding her head in his direction.

“No, wait!" I say, but she's gone.

I quickly fix my hair, and throw some gum in my mouth right as Joshua stops at my locker.

“Hey" he says.

“Hey, how are you?" I say, trying to be as casual as possible.

“I'm fine, thanks."

Yes you are, I say in my mind.

“Look, there's something I want to tell you."  He says, and takes a deep breath.  “I think you are a beautiful girl and I always have thought that.  I think you may be one of the prettiest in the whole school.  I want to.......um, I want to get closer to you, and I'd like to take you on a date this Friday.  If you wanted to, of course....."

“That sounds wonderful." I say with a shy smiles but inside my head I'm dancing, jumping up and down and doing  backflips.  This is really happening.